by Keith Burton - GCN  6/19/07

What do you call a secretive organization where its membership is not a public record, it counts as members elected officials, and is active in lobbying for issues? On the Mississippi Coast, you call the organization the Gulf Coast Business Council, and you would be amazed at what they are doing.

The Gulf Coast Business Council is not a public agency or a form of extended Chamber of Commerce. The organization is made up of a variety of Coast business and political leaders, but its primary membership is truly unknown, because the organization will not release its membership to the media, or release how it is financed and by how much. The council, however, is very visible lobbying for a variety of issues, such as lower business insurance rates, and lower cost housing, but it is not an official agency. Its director, Brian Sanderson has told GCN in a past interview that the council is not registered as a lobbying group but primarily seeks to influence public policies indirectly.

The council is reported to have 185 members from the three coast counties of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson. GCN does know that among its members are high-power managers of several Coast businesses including individuals from Mississippi Power, Hancock Bank, Northrop Grumman and several individuals from the local major media from the Sun Herald and WLOX. It is the media connection that makes this organization unusual as it directly can influence what you hear about its activities.

A recent article in the Sun Herald, "Business Council celebrates a year transforming the Coast," reveals its broad impact on some key Coast activities. While some could say that the council is just a benevolent group of do-gooders from the Coast's industry, it remains an organization that chooses to conceal much of its activities and membership, and some of its members clearly could benefit from its "influence" on policies and spending decisions by local governments.

The influence it has on politicians can be significant. Some in the council have the business and political clout to determine a local politician's career. The group clearly has access to public officials that the general public does not have. It also has a working relationship at the state level with Governor Barbour and the Mississippi Development Authority.

While the organization touts members that include elected officials from the cities and counties, they are not actually "members" but ad-hoc members.

As mentioned earlier, the council is not a public agency, but its appearance in news stories in the Coast's major media often suggests that the council is an active part of the Coast's political infrastructure. But if you wanted to attend a meeting of the council, you could not. Nor can anyone else without a specific invitation. The actual goals of the current activities of the council have not been made a public record. Usually people find out what is happening after the fact in a glowing report from WLOX or the Sun Herald.

In the Sun Herald article we learn that, "The council has been at the forefront of promoting good public policy," said council vice chairman and Mississippi Gaming Commission chairman Jerry St. Pe. And in some cases the group has helped prevent bad public policy. A strong, united voice from the business community can make a difference, said St. Pe."

Coast residents who voted for their elected officials may be surprised to learn that a secretive organization of powerful individuals is actually directing public policies so carefully. The Sun Herald article fails to mention what policies were influenced and just why they were "bad." Bad for whom?

Members of the council were not elected by the public, it does not represent "public" interests although some activities may do so, but no one should be misled. The council is not a public body, it is a privately organized group that clearly lobbies politicians and while it has so far escaped being labeled as a lobbying group, its activities are continuously reported to be involved with influencing the elected officials making decisions.

The Gulf Coast Business Council replaced a similar secretive organization called Coast 21 shortly after hurricane Katrina.

A recent front page story in the Sun Herald touting the work of Biloxi attorney Ron Peresich, a member of the council, described Peresich's work with the Gulf Coast Business Council and is a revealing look at how much influence this organization and its members have on the Coast's development.

Quoting the story in the Sun Herald:

"Peresich is a low-key operator, doesn't usually seek the media spotlight and has, in fact, been known to dodge it. But, behind the scenes, he's a mover who has the ear of the state's political leaders and has the reputation of a calm mediator on tough issues," reports the story.

The article goes on to say:

"Peresich helped found Coast 21, a group of business leaders who sought to create consensus on the Coast about major policy decisions. More recently, Coast 21 morphed into the Gulf Coast Business Council, for which Peresich serves as sort of a chief lobbyist in Jackson."

The Mississippi Secretary of State is charged with monitoring and registering lobbying organizations but has not yet listed the Gulf Coast Business Council as a lobbying organization.

Among the council's activities has been to influence what is happening with the huge turnover of federal property at the former Gulfport VA on the beach along U.S. 90. The VA has said it plans to turn over the highly valuable site to Gulfport sometime in the near future. Gulfport's mayor, Brent Warr, sought the council's help to find ways the VA site can be developed. GCN reported on that in a story titled, "Revealing the Invisible Government"

Regardless, the council is reported to have made significant contributions to the post-Katrina recovery on the Coast, but its work is often outlined to take credit for the efforts of elected officials.

The Sun Herald story on the council confirms the council's role on some major public issues. "The council also is supporting creation of an east-west corridor, the Infinity project, the Pascagoula waterfront project, good use of the Veterans Administration property and the State Port of Gulfport."

So, who is actually running the Coast? The people elected, or the council? Here you have an answer.

More Information: Updated Links - 2/4/08

Gulf Coast Business Council Spins Katrina Recovery - GCN Special Report

Revealing the Invisible Government - GCN Special Report

Gulf Coast Business Council to Buy Harrah's Building on Seaway Road in Gulfport - GCN

Gulf Coast Business Council Overstates Ownership Plans Over Purchase  of Harrah's Building - GCN

Harrah's Finalizes Sale of Administration Building To Non-Profit Group - GCN

Gulf Coast Business Council Plans more "Lobbying" the Legislature - GCN